In the 14-year period of 2005 through 2018, canines killed 471 Americans. Pit bulls contributed to 66% (311) of these deaths. Combined, pit bulls and rottweilers contributed to 76% of the total recorded deaths. | More »

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Pit Bull Kills Toddler West Mifflin, PA - On Sunday evening, 2-year old TayLynn DeVaughn was viciously attacked and killed by a family pit bull-mix while visiting her aunt's home on Fleetwood Drive in West Mifflin, a Pittsburgh suburb. The pit bull belongs to her aunt's boyfriend. The child's father, Cory DeVaughn, told WPXI, "I came out of the kitchen and the dog dropped the baby. His name was Jake and my baby was gone." The toddler was rushed to Jefferson Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead.

The distraught father also said that it was the second time his daughter had been around the pit bull-mix. DogsBite.org adds, the second time and last time. DeVaughn said he doesn’t blame the owners and that everyone is hurting right now. "She has a lot of people that love her a lot. People all over love my baby," DeVaughn said. Allegheny County police said the county district attorney’s office would review the case for possible charges once the police investigation is complete.

"You gotta be careful whose house you take your child to, so it won't happened to your child what happened to mine." - Cory DeVaughn

Ferree told the TribLive on Monday that the dog is a 3- or 4-year-old pit bull mix and weighs about 80 pounds. "It's a good-size, powerful dog," he said. "It fought me a bit ... when we had to remove it." Though using a catch-pole to handle the dog, the animal attacked him again at the kennel. "He wasn't a cooperative dog," he said. Ferree said he would keep the dog in his McKeesport kennel for the standard 10-day quarantine period. Let's hope for everyone's sake that is true this time.

Yesterday it was announced that ASICS and the Los Angeles Marathon chose a pit bull rescue as the charity for the event. Our Local channel KTLA-5 had a news reporter with the pit bull rescue and they did several reports throughout the morning. Their purpose (the rescue) was to promote the pit bull as a "family dog" and "dispel myths" about the breed.(Notice when they are touting them suddenly they are a breed)

I am appalled that a company as big as ASICS would chose this kind of group.

I am so sorry for this family, I cannot imagine how awful it would be to have this happen.

I don't get it- rescues of all types are struggling for money and resources, while pit bulls are handed the golden ticket. The ONLY breed that kills regularly, but they get the lion share of the funding. The ferret shelter I volunteer for is more worthy, but don't see a dime of city money, while the local HS is begging for tax dollars for a bigger shelter (to house- pit bulls!!! they already refuse feral cats, and charge big fees for rehoming pets, so it's all pits because pit owners will dump the maulers on the street so they get taken in.)